VERO BEACH — City Human Resources Director Robert Anderson is retiring Friday, becoming the fourth department or division head to leave city employment since City Manager Jim O'Connor started his job in July.

But O'Connor said he didn't ask for Anderson's retirement.

Nor has he been "cleaning house," he said, in getting former Customer Service Director John Lee, former Power Resources Director Jim Stevens, and former Police Chief Don Dappen to retire or resign.

"They were all separate people who made their own decisions," O'Connor said Wednesday. "You spend 30 years on the job and your retirement plan is a good one, especially in this atmosphere of change, and as a human being, this (retirement) is one thing you'll look at."

Vero Beach Vice Mayor Craig Fletcher said he was concerned enough, though, to talk Wednesday morning with O'Connor after he'd heard a rumor that the city manager had pressured Anderson to retire.

"I told him, 'I need to know what you're doing,' " Fletcher said. "I mean, it's his call which (staff) people come and go. ... He has a management team to put together of people who he sees will lead the city into the next budget year. And he said he thought his management style wouldn't work with Bob's."

Anderson couldn't be reached Wednesday for comment.

Anderson, 59, joined the city in March 2004, hired by then-interim City Manager Tom Nason. He cited a doctorate in industrial psychology and more than 20 years in human resources.

Anderson's current annual salary is $104,596, which reflects a 4.62 percent reduction he and other nonunion city employees making more than $70,000 per year had to take this year.

O'Connor scored Anderson as "satisfactory" throughout an April 18 appraisal on a form geared to salaried employees.

"Together we need to work on understanding the new dynamics of the workplace," O'Connor wrote. "You need to create a business plan that addresses the cost and how to reduce the cost of the city's most important resource while at the same time the most expensive resource. I value the HR director's position and need to have more guidance from that department in decision-making."

O'Connor said Anderson has run his department "very well." But he said he was concerned about the future, such as the need to negotiate a new contract with the Coastal Florida Police Benevolent Association, whose last contract expired in September, and work on new pacts with the police lieutenants' union and a new bargaining unit for clerical support employees.

"It's a difficult row to hoe," O'Connor said.

A month after the review, Anderson notified O'Connor in a May 18 memo that he had decided "it is time to retire from the city of Vero Beach."

"I have enjoyed my tenure as HR director for the city," he added. "I have formed many personal and professional relationships with other city employees. I will greatly miss these relationships and hope to stay in contact with my friends and colleagues."

The amount of Anderson's retirement package wasn't available Wednesday.

As for the others who have left under O'Connor's management, Fletcher said he didn't think most of them were asked to leave, either.

"I just think they saw the writing on the wall," Fletcher said. "I don't think Jim was cleaning house. But he does come out and tells you exactly what he expects."

DEPARTURES

The following staff leaders left since Vero Beach City Manager Jim O'Connor joined the city in July 2011:

Former Police Chief Don Dappen: Retired Nov. 30 after 35 years with the Police Department. O'Connor had put Dappen, 55, on administrative leave Nov. 4 as part of the process to remove him from his post. O'Connor on Oct. 20 first asked Dappen to consider retirement, citing differences in management philosophy. He specifically mentioned a couple of cases where communications were sent out before being cleared first through the City Manager's Office.

Former Customer Service Manager John Lee: Retired March 2. He said he based his decision on having 32 years with the city as of Feb. 18 and turning 62 on Feb. 28. When asked if the possible sale of the city's electric system to Florida Power & Light Co. played any part in his decision, Lee responded, "Oh, gosh no."

Former Power Resources Director Jim Stevens: Retired May 1 after 14 years. O'Connor said his announcement was a surprise and praised his work. He said Stevens informed him he was going to be taking another job in New York to be near his family. Stevens, meanwhile, told O'Connor he wouldn't miss the stress of the last few years at the power plant.

Former City Attorney Charles Vitunac and former Finance Director Steve Maillet, also retired — but in March 2011, before O'Connor joined the staff.